By John Voket - This summer, I’m going to pot –I mean, I'll be following the lead of the Ballard Design Studio pros who say this is the year to start decorating with planters.

Getting started is as easy as strategically placing a few potted containers to create lush, easy-to-maintain landscaping for your outdoor space. A mix of foliage plants and flowers provide instant color, and planters provide you with a great design tool because you can use them to define a space.